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Baldur Ferry to Replace Westman Islands’ Herjólfur Ferry

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Baldur Ferry to Replace Westman Islands’ Herjólfur Ferry

July 21, 2011 15:29Updated: January 30, 2014 20:24

A year after the inauguration of Landeyjarhöfn harbor, the Herjólfur ferry will be replaced by Baldur ferry to transport passengers to the Westman Islands; Herjólfur will be taken to a shipyard overseas for repair.

Landeyjarhöfn harbor was inaugurated on July 20 last year and began scheduled crossings the following day. The number of passengers traveling on Herjólfur multiplied during the first few weeks when the ferry would transport as many in a single month as it had in six months.

Herjólfur in Landeyjarhöfn harbor. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.

In September last year, it became clear the harbor was too shallow for a ferry the size of Herjólfur and repeated closures occurred in the months ahead.

Landeyjarhöfn harbor was closed to traffic in the beginning of September and reopened in the middle of the month; it was again closed to traffic later that month and finally re-opened in November last year.

Crossings from the harbor were again cancelled from early January of this year until the beginning of May; since the re-opening no further problems have occurred and 70,000 passengers have traveled with the Herjólfur to date.

Statistics for the first year show two thirds of all crossings sailed to Landeyjarhöfn harbor whereas a third sailed to Thorlákshöfn harbor.

Herjólfur will travel to an overseas shipyard in September and is expected to remain there until October, ruv.isreports.

Depending on conditions, Baldur will cross from both Landeyjarhöfn or Thorlákshöfn harbor; the Icelandic Maritime Administration is awaiting confirmation from the Minister of Interior Ögmundur Jónasson, permitting Baldur to cross the necessary routes.